Justin Bourne's Column

The pro hockey player and son of Isles great Bob Bourne looks at the NHL's growth off the ice, but not on the players' faces. What part of the NHL playoffs should I write about for my next THN blog?
Should I write about how the Star Wars-worthy epic playoff series between the Washington Ovechkins and the Pittsburgh Crosbys dropped like the stock market the second Simeon Varlamov landed back on Earth?
Nah.

The current ECHLer and son of former Islanders great Bob Bourne talks about hockey's new breed of pest and how to exterminate them. Playoffs have brought to light a revolutionary new breed of tough guy in the NHL: The Post-Whistle Phony.
Let me preface my thoughts with a disclaimer.

The current ECHLer and son of former Islanders great Bob Bourne explains why the first two rounds of the playoffs are pure joy. Fans who keep one foot on the NHL bandwagon, hop on.
Round 1 is upon us.
In my past two seasons as a player, I’ve played in six playoff rounds.

The current ECHLer and son of former Isles great Bob Bourne discusses how a good dressing room atmosphere can make a big difference on the ice. As a hockey player, every winter you get handed 20 new friends. I usually got along with about 19, genuinely liked five and found one gem.
But what happens when there isn’t that one gem? Or even five you genuinely like? What happens when you only get along with 16 of your teammates? Does it affect your performance?
Talent is what it is, you’re either good or you aren’t.

The ECHLer and son of former Isles great Bob Bourne talks about the give and take in a hockey dressing room. Playing hockey for too long has turned me into a complete jackass.
When I first walked into a junior hockey dressing room, I was 17. I didn't drink, smoke or do anything all that “cool.

The son of Islanders legend Bob Bourne and current ECHLer takes a humorous look at the game as it should be. Playing hockey for a living offers some perks recreational players aren't afforded – namely, free gear. My senior year of college included 38 games and two dozen Nike/Bauer Vapor XXX sticks, which at the time retailed for just less than the cost of a human baby on the black market.

In his first THN.com Insider Blog, the son of Islanders legend Bob Bourne talks about his rise and fall; from college to minor pro. As I sit here and type this, my jaw is in four pieces. I'm equipped with two plates, 10 screws and a bottom row of teeth that would rival the finest set in any backwoods pub in England.